Terms of Service

By using Sniff (sniff.world), you agree to these terms.

1. What Sniff publishes

Sniff publishes information about dogs: breed pages, disease and gene pages, carrier frequencies, life expectancy, the atlas, and the answers the Ask feature gives. Each figure is drawn from a named source (peer-reviewed literature, curated databases such as OMIA, and de-identified canine genetic research datasets) and carries that source on the page. Where Sniff summarizes, ranks or explains those sources, the summary is editorial opinion based on the disclosed facts.

Sniff's content is protected speech on matters of public concern under the First Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, Section 2 of the California Constitution. It is not medical advice, not a diagnosis, and not a substitute for a veterinarian's or a veterinary geneticist's professional judgment. A breed figure describes dogs of that breed, not your dog. If your dog has a medical concern, see your veterinarian.

2. Independence

A dog's page is free and stays free. Sniff runs no advertising and receives no commission from any link on the site. It has accepted no investment, sponsorship or payment from any pet food manufacturer, distributor, retailer or trade group. If that ever changes, the change will be disclosed on this page before it takes effect, and any paid link will be labeled as one.

3. How the content is made

How the knowledge graph is assembled is published at /about and /science. Every value carries its source, and its sample size where it has one. Where the evidence is too thin, Sniff says so rather than guessing. Sniff does not classify variants as disease-causing with a model of its own; it shows the classifications that curated sources publish, and cites them.

4. Your dog: what you share, and what you can take back

When you add a dog through /add/, including any photo, story or note, you grant Sniff a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to show that content on the dog's page and in the atlas, according to the visibility you choose for each field, and to include it in aggregated, de-identified research. Aggregates never identify a dog or a person.

A dog's page is permanent in one direction only. Sniff will never take a dog's page down on its own, and a page never lapses or depends on a payment. You can remove it at any time: signed in, from the dog's page or from /account/, or by emailing matt@sniff.world. Removing the dog withdraws this license for everything except aggregates already published, which contain no individual record (see the privacy policy).

You confirm that you have the right to share any photo and information you add. Do not add content that infringes someone else's rights, is unlawful, misrepresents another person's dog, or identifies other people. Sniff may remove content that breaks these terms, such as a memorial note aimed at a person or promotional copy, without notice. That is the only reason Sniff removes anything an owner adds.

5. Genetic data and research use

A dog is placed in the atlas from what its owner knows about its breeds (a Charted placement) or, when the owner uploads one, from its genotype file (a Sequenced placement). An uploaded genotype is used only to place that dog and in aggregated, de-identified research. Sniff does not sell, license or share an individual dog's genetic record with anyone. Statistics drawn from many dogs, such as how a breed is distributed or how often a condition appears in a group, may be published; they contain no individual identifiers.

6. Corrections

Anyone can ask for a correction: an owner, a veterinarian, a researcher, a breed club, a laboratory, or the author of a source Sniff cites. The process and its timelines are at /corrections. Asking for a correction does not waive any legal right held by you or by Sniff, and Sniff's documented good-faith handling of a request may be shown in any later legal proceeding.

7. Governing law and exclusive venue

These Terms, and any dispute arising out of or relating to Sniff or to content published on Sniff (including claims of defamation, trade libel, disparagement, false light, tortious interference or unfair competition), are governed by the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict-of-laws principles. The exclusive venue for any such dispute is the state and federal courts located in Los Angeles County, California. By using Sniff, you consent to the personal jurisdiction of those courts and waive any objection based on inconvenient forum.

8. Protections for speech on public questions

You acknowledge that Sniff's content concerns matters of public interest within the meaning of California Code of Civil Procedure section 425.16, including canine health, canine genetic research, the accuracy of genetic testing claims, and consumer protection. Any claim arising from Sniff's content is subject to that statute and the protections it provides, including the special motion to strike, the stay of discovery while the motion is pending, and the award of fees and costs to a prevailing defendant. You agree not to seek a forum that would deprive Sniff of these protections. Nothing in these Terms limits any other constitutional or statutory protection for Sniff's speech, including the protection for opinion based on disclosed facts recognized in Milkovich v. Lorain Journal Co., 497 U.S. 1 (1990), and the cases that follow it.

9. Limitation of liability

Sniff is provided "as is" and "as available," without warranty of accuracy, completeness, currency or fitness for a particular purpose. To the maximum extent the law allows, Sniff and its owners are not liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special or punitive damages arising from medical, breeding, care, purchasing or other decisions made in reliance on content published on Sniff.

10. Intellectual property and open data

Sniff's writing, design and atlas visualization are © Sniff. Datasets Sniff publishes for reuse carry their own open license, stated with each release. Third-party data shown on the site remains under its source's license and is credited where it appears. Photos you add remain yours and are used under the license in Section 4.

11. Changes to these terms

Sniff may update these terms. A material change is flagged on the homepage for 30 days, and the date at the top of this page changes with it. Continuing to use Sniff after the change date means you accept the updated terms.

12. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is held unenforceable, the remaining provisions stay in full force and effect.

13. Contact

Email matt@sniff.world.